Black screen with red white blue rectangles (pic included)

Black screen with red white blue rectangles (pic included) Strange start up screen

#1 utty

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 09:10 AM

Hello

I have a spare computer and the other day it was on while I went to take a shower. I came back and saw this black screen with rectangles a strange letter that looks like a C with a tail and an unresponsive blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner. When I restart it goes imediately to that screen. I was able to finally get into boot menu by pressing first F12 and then F2. It does say that my primary drive can not be found. Yet in the boot menu I am seeing that the first drive is recognized. It's confusing. I am on an older computer that is a Dell Dimension 8200 with all the original parts. It is Windows XP service pack 3. I have tested the monitor and that is not it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The orange rectangle in the picture is actually red in person.

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#2 Broni

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 11:11 AM

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28744&hl=hard+drive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), to make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps HERE

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#3 Eyesee

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 12:00 PM

Do the video anomalies also appear in the BIOS setup screens when you press F2 or is it fine there?

Definitely test this drive as Broni suggests. Make sure to do the thorough scan.
It could take hours so be patient with it.
If the drive fails the manufacturers diagnostics replace it.

In the beginning there was the command line.

#4 utty

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 01:16 PM

Thank you both Broni and eyesee. I appreciate your time. The screen looks normal in bios. Tonight I will try what you suggest and either way I will get back to you on the results. Have you seen a screen like this before? Thanks

#5 Eyesee

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 01:26 PM

utty, on 15 April 2011 - 01:16 PM, said:

Have you seen a screen like this before?

Not me says Eyesee

If its fine in the BIOS I wouldnt expect a video card issue.
Let us know what you find out.

In the beginning there was the command line.

#6 Broni

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 01:31 PM

It may be hard drive, or video card.
Test the drive and we'll go from there.

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#7 Broni

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 01:31 PM

Quote

If its fine in the BIOS I wouldnt expect a video card issue.

True...

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#8 utty

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Posted 16 April 2011 - 07:17 PM

I did go inside the computer at one point and noticed some of the cards to be loose. I was so excited thinking I had fixed it but that was not the case.

I haven't tried this yet as I need to learn how to make a disc out of these things. I am considering just replacing the old drive with a new one that I have here. Or is there a way to format the disc in this situation? There's nothing important to me on that computer.

Thanks

#9 Broni

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Posted 16 April 2011 - 08:42 PM

Testing the drive first would be better, so you don't waste your time with reinstalling Windows.

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#10 utty

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Posted 16 April 2011 - 09:42 PM

I agree but the problem is now it is saying that there is no primary drive. It also says that my CD rom drive is not installed. I checked the physical connections they are tight. I can't get it to boot off of the ..... Well wait I can try the floppy drive. I will try that and come back.

I'll write down any messages I get and bring them back here. Thanks

#11 utty

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Posted 17 April 2011 - 07:03 AM

I am unable to do these diagnostic tests. The primary drive is "missing" The CD rom drive is "not installed" and I can't fit the test onto a floppy. The files are too big. However I was able to make a floppy boot disc and can launch from there into dos. Big bummer is that I don't know dos. lol

Any suggestions as to what to write after <A:/> prompt ?

Thanks

#12 Broni

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Posted 17 April 2011 - 11:31 AM

You have to tell us what EXACTLY happens.
Are you sure, you're trying to boot from created CD (did you check BIOS "boot order"?)?
At what point are you getting "The CD rom drive is not installed" error?

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#13 utty

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 02:19 AM

Hi Sorry that I didn't get back to this until now. A lot going on around here.

Anyway I have gone into bios and set up the boot sequence to start from the diskette which I formatted from my other computer.

When it starts from there This is what I get

Primary hard disk drive 1 not found. Then sometimes I get the "keyboard failure"

Set up

Time and date are correct
Primary drive 0 - Auto
Primary Drive 1 unknown device =auto
secondary drive cd rom - auto
primary drive cd rom - auto
Boot sequence - diskette drive

I admit I know nothing about any of this. My head is spinning

I tried to start from the CD but it said that my CD rom drive was not found.

I am also not convinced that I set that cd up right from the link you sent me.

Thanks

#14 Sector17

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 08:27 AM

It sounds like the motherboard is fried.

#15 Guest_RadioNorthsea_*

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 08:51 AM

Quote

It sounds like the motherboard is fried.

Agree.

But for the secure, you doing very well when you check all internal cables.
Sometimes would a cable not make a good connection.
By light shocks through traffic or maybe a neighbour that doing his job in house and he use a hammer drill, than get you also the problem that there is a loss connection in the case.
But before you check the cables, take care that you are be unstatic.
Crap with one hand the chassis and with the other, check you the cables.